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A Syrian foreign ministry spokesman
said the wreckage from the plane’s tailgate proved it had been shot down
within Syrian airspace.

He claimed the flight was ‘a clear breach of Syrian sovereignty’ and its military had had to react immediately.

The dispute comes as a host of top
Syrian army officers have defected from brutal President Bashar Assad's
forces and arrived in Turkey.

Left: The F4 Phantom jet had taken off from Erhac airport in the eastern province of Malatya shortly before all contact with the aircraft was lost last week (file picture)

A general, two colonels, two majors,
one lieutenant and 33 soldiers have turned up, with their families,
Turkish state television has said.

A total of 224 individuals are seeking asylum in the neighbouring country, also reported by private news channel CNN Turk.

They are being hosted at a refugee camp near the border.It follows the defection of four high-placed Syrian military
officials - two brigadier-generals and two colonels who are all brothers
- on Saturday.

And on Thursday a MiG fighter pilot, the first aircraft defection, flew to Jordan and was given political asylum.

Thousands of soldiers have abandoned
the regime, but most are low-level conscripts. The Free Syria Army - the
loosely linked group of rebel forces - is made up largely of defectors.

Defectors affiliated with the Free
Syrian Army and based in Turkey are known to collect food and other
supplies to deliver to comrades on smuggling routes.

Continued protests: Demonstrators protest against Syria's President Bashar Assad in Dael near Deraa

The EU has imposed asset freezes and visa bans on more than 100 people responsible for or associated with the violent repression against Syria's civilian population, and an asset freeze on 43 entities.

British foreign secretary William Hague called for increased pressure, but said the jet incident did not fundamentally alter the situation in Syria, where Assad has been suppressing a 16-month revolt against his rule.

He said: 'I don't think it illustrates a different phase. It's very important that we increase the pressure with additional sanctions.

'Other countries will be very active in arguing for a new resolution from the (United Nations) Security Council.'

Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power, have blocked efforts by Western powers to condemn Assad or call for his removal.

More follows.

VIDEO: Turkey accuses Syria of shooting down one of its military reconnaissance jets

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Syria suffers more mass defections as top army officers defy Assad and arrive in Turkey with their families